How Nadal fought back to beat Mayer in four sets

Rafael Nadal, speaking after his 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-1 6-4 win: "All the matches have been very tight. I am very happy. I don't know how many break points I had before I got the first one. Mentally, I fought a lot until that moment then I think I play better.

"I'd like to improve my forehand. At the end of the match I was hitting more on the line. At the beginning I created opportunities but I felt he had too many chances to go for the ball on my forehand.

On potentially meeting Federer in the semis: "I am in the fourth round now. I don't think much about that. It's a long way away. All the matches have been very tough. The only thing I am looking for is the practice tomorrow to keep working hard and focus on the match against Dolgopolov."

Credit to Mayer, he fought off 19 break points and 13 in a row against the world number one, but in the end it's not really possibly to red-line it for three hours plus. A final tally of 52 errors was double that of Nadal, although to call them unforced would be harsh.

Nadal moves on but is still grinding through the low gears, and another week of hard work lies ahead.

Nadal was so tough mentally there in the second set when he needed to be and that proved crucial.

Officially we are still in the day session at Flushing Meadows.

The night session was due to start 90 minutes ago.

No one keeps Roger in the corner (apart from Rafa). He's up next on Arthur Ashe Court, against Feliciano Lopez.

But first, Nadal's going to speak on court.

It is amazing to think when you look at this match that Mayer came in to the tournament as a lucky loser.

It just shows you the standard of tennis that is there outside the top 100.

Here we go again.

The umpire urges the rowdy crowd to be quiet as Rafa Nadal serves for the match for a second time.

Mayer hits out a backhand for 15-0 and can't scale the net for the forehand. It's 30-0.

But Nadal then completely mucks up a forehand and it loops way, way out of bounds. An odd choice of shot. 30-15.

And then, after a remarkable rally everything pauses as the ball has flown all over the place and no one really knows what's happened.

On review, Mayer's backhand DID land on the line and he DID make a late, late call. It's 30-30. Drama!

Rafa is not happy, but he composes himself and earns match point.

Wow, how hard did he hit that forehand. He is doing a fine job of keeping this match alive.

Mayer is going to give it absolutely everything.

It ain't over till it's over, as legendary New Yorker Lenny Kravitz once sang.

Leo Mayer stutters to 40-30 and goes on to hold.

There's life in the old dog yet! Nadal will try again to serve for the match.

It's fair to say the stirring resistance shown by Mayer to break back didn't go down that well with the queuing night crowd outside...

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That comes from Mayer's mindset, he is not allowing himself to lose focus and he is still playing for every point.

Here we go then...

Forehand winner from Nadal for 15-0, before he hits long to make it 15-15.

And then he shanks past the baseline again for 15-30. Hummmm.

The two-time champion pulls out a powerful forehand to level.

But then he nets on the next point. Break point Mayer!

My oh my - Mayer's taken it! Rafa's gone wide. Well...

It is a formality now for Nadal. Mayer has brought so much to this match, those first two sets were really testing for Nadal.

We've hit the three-hour mark in this third-round match! And we're still going...just about.

Having raced through the third set, we've slowed down again.

Mayer and Nadal are neck and neck on 30-30. Mayer tries to finish off a forehand on the line but it's just wide. Nadal brings up break point.

He's got it! Leo Mayer hits long and Nadal will serve for the match.

The Rafa Nadal steam train to the fourth round has come to an abrupt halt for a second.

The Spaniard is 15-30 down.

Oh, wait. Fire the engines back up, slam the doors, sound the horn. The Nadal express is back on its way thanks to some fine serving.

Choo choo.

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I am a little disappointed in the Mayer box as only one person in there clapped when he turned to them after that game.

4/10 for that performance.

Mayer's made a sudden outburst. "LET'S GO, LET'S GO," he screams.

Isn't that Rafa's line?

Mayer sees out his service game with a deft ace. He needs a break now.

The grunting has increased 10-fold at Rafael Nadal's end of the court. But I don't think it's signalling his tiredness. He looks invigorated if anything.

The third seed storms ahead to 40-0 and watches Mayer hit wide.

Hold.

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The line for the official US Open shop. You get the feeling in this weather that jumpers and ponchos are going to have gone first.

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